Automobile-heater.



E. F. SMITH. AUTOMOBILE HEATER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1917.

' 1 %66,@Y3; Patented May 21, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. F. SMITH- AUTOMOBILE HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9; I937.

Patented May 21, 11918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I 24 EILEBLIE vwamtoz NT T WARN EUGENE E. SMITH, on ASI-ETABULA, oriio.

AUTOMOBILE-HEATER.

messes.

To all whom it may 00mm.-

Be it known that I, EUGENE F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ashtabula, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Heaters;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same. i i

This invention relates to automobiles and other engine driven vehicles,but more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in heatersfor engine driven vehicles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a heater-for enginedriven vehicles adapted to receive its heat from the exhaust of theengine, and at the same time to muffle said exhaust so as to overcomemuch of the noise necessarily incident to the running of an engine. 7

Another object of the invention is to improve upon devices of this classby the porvision of a comparatively simple, strong, durable andinexpensive construction, and one which will be efficient and reliablein operation, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With these and numerous other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction and the combination andarrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application, and inwhich similar characters are used to designate like parts throughout theseveral views Figure 1 is'a diagrammatic plan view of an automobileequipped with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the heater detached;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through theheater on the line 3-3 ofFig. l; and,

Fig. f is a vertical sectional view taken on ,theplane indicated by theline l4e of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates anordinary internal combustion engine, and B the exhaust pipe of the same.Arranged beneath the floor of the automobile, preferably in advance ofthe portion of the same above which the seats are disposed, are hollowcasings or heating chambers 1, each of which is formed of twoasbestos-lined relatively long and narrow portions 2 and 3. The portionsSpecification of Letters Patent. P tent d mayg'jl, 19131,

Application filed May 9, 1917. Serial No. 167,462.

2 and 3 of each casing are arranged at right above the upper side of theportion 2. The

numeral 4 designates register plates which are fitted upon the open topsofthe portions 3 of the casings and secured thereto in any suitablemanner. Each of these register plates forms a part of the casing whoseupper end it covers. As shown, the plate 4 is provided with a pluralityof perforations, but it is to be understood that openings of any form orconfiguration may be substituted for them. vThe lower side or bottom ofthe portion 3 is inclined from its outer to its inner end to assist incausing the hot air from the portion 2 of the casing to be directedtoward the top of the portion 3 and out through the perforatedregisterplate.

Projecting centrally and outwardly from one end of the portion 2 of eachcasing is a short nipple 5. Theother end of theportion 2 is providedwith a comparatively large opening 7 through which a tubular orcylindrical element 8 is inserted into the interior of the casing. Afterthis is done a plate 9 is secured in any suitable manner to the lastmentioned end of the portion 2. This plate 9 carries the centrallyarranged outwardly extending nipple 10 which is similar to the nipplecarried at the other end of the portion 2. The nipple 10 of one heaterand the nipple 5 of the other heater are attached, by means of unions 6,to pipes C which are connected to the exhaust pipe B. The remaintogetherby two nipples and a short pipe section I).

As shown, the tubular element 8 is of a length such that when itisdisposed longitu dinally in the portion 2 of the casing, and the plate9 is secured to the proper end of the same, the pipe section will bemaintained firmly in place. To prevent any possible leakage between thecasing and the ends of the tubular element 8, the ends of the latter arebroadened or radially flanged, and suitable packing l1 isdisposedbetween said ends and the adjacent sides of theplate 9 and the other endof the portion 2 of the casing.

Extending transversely through the element 8 and inclining forwardlyfrom their 111g unions 6 of the two casings'are connected upper to theireach casing, near their vlded with openings 13 through whlch a1r 7 lowerends is a plurality of tubes 12. As shown, these tubes 12 are arrangedin two rows extending longitudinally with respect to the tubular element8. The

lower end of each tube 2 is cut off rightangularly, while the upper endsthereof are cut ofi all in the same plane. This construc tion provides ameans for causing circulation of the air both around the element 8 andtherethrough by way of the tubes.

The opposite sides of the portion 2 of lower edges, are profrom theoutside may of the casing.

It is to be understood thatthe automobile pass into the interior'OIfOtheI vehicle maybe provided with as many of theheaters as it hasseats, and these may be arranged in any convenient manner and locationin the machine, the pipe section or pipe sections D being dimensionedand shaped according to the require ments of each case.

The relatively long and narrow registers are in open communication withthe interior of the automobile and extend transversely of the automobilefloor and through the greater part of the width ofthe latter, so thatthe heated air is dispensed in a relatively narrow and long space acrossthe floor, and several persons on the same seat of the automobile may beequally benefitted by one of the heaters. This advantage is obtained inspite of the location of the portions 2 and their tubular elements atone side of the automobile. By thus locating the portions 2, however,they do not interfere with the driving shaft, nor with other centrallylocated parts, and are arranged in close proximity to the laterallydisposed 'exhaust pipe B, so that the exhaust is not cooled appreciablyin passing from the engine to theheaters.

Because of the portions 2 being relatively long and narrow andpositioned as explained in the foregoing they are susceptible of themaximum capacity and air-heating surface while providing for the utmostconvenience in attaching the casings to one another and to theautomobile.

After the engine has been started and it is desired to heat the machine,a'two-way valve 14: arranged at the junction of one ofthe'pipes C andexhaust pipe B is operated so as to cause all or a portion of theexhaust from the pipe B to passthrough the heaters. This hot exhaustheats the air contained in the casing, and this heated and lightened airpasses upwardly through the same and out through the register plate 4Copies of thispatent may-be obtained for five cents each,

into the interior of the ear. Cold air enters the casings or hot-airchambers by way of their inlet openings 13, and a considerable portionof this cold air is drawn through the tubes 12, in consequence of theair being heated therein and rising therefrom. It is obvious, therefore,that these tubes 12 render the heaters extremely eflieient.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the construction, use and operation of the devicewill be readily understood without a more extended explanation. Asvarious changes in form, proportion and in the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthis invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limitedto the precise construction herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. In a heater for engine-driven vehicles, a hollow casing formed of tworelatively long and narrow intersection portions arranged at rightangles with respect to each other, one of said portions of the casingincluding an apertured register plate through which it is in opencon'nnunication with the interior of the vehicle, said portion and itsregistering plate extending transversely of the vehicle and through thegreater portion of the width of the latter, the other portion of saidcasing having air inlet openings therein, and a tubular elementextending through said otherportion of said casing and adapted to beconnected to the exhaust outlet of the vehicle-engine.

2. In a heater for engine-drix en vehicles, a unitary structurecomprising a hollow casing formed of two relatively long and narrowintersection portions arranged at right angles with respect to eachother, one of said portions of the casing projecting laterally of theother of said portions and extending from one sideto and beyond theother side of the other of said portions, this laterally projectingportion including an apertured register plate in open communication withthe interior of the vehicle, said other portion of the casing having airinlet openings, and a pipe extending through said other portion of thecasing and, adapted to be connected with the exhaust pipe of thevehicle-engine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EUGENE F. SMITH.

Witnesses:

DON V. PARKER, WAUNITA S. SMITH.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

